Bachmann Message Board

Bachmann's Spectrum locomotives are so nice, both in detail and in their smooth running. I would love to see some new items compatible with all of the Aristo and USA Trains 1/29 rolling stock that is now available. Mid and late standard gauge steam locomotives. There has to be a huge market. Aristo has their Mike and Pacific, but it doesn't compare to my Bachmann Climax in either running or detail.

Or if that is too big a step, how about a standard gauge Shay. There were huge numbers of Shays built to standard guage. To bring out something similar in quality to the 38 ton Shay in standard gauge should not be so hard for Bachmann. The 1:20.3 items are just too big to run along side 1/29.

Is this a possibility, or does Bachmann want to specialize in 1:20.3. Thanks. Steve

I do not believe that Bachmann seeks to be all things to all people, what they do, they do well. Catering for a Narrow gauge market, there are more than enough manufacturers catering for Standard Gauge modellers, even if most have a incorrect scale/gauge combination!

If I'm not mistaken, this same topic came up last year sometime, and Bachmann has specialized in narrow guage RR'ing, and is doing a GREAT job. The product is great quality, and much more affordable than other manufacturers.Bachmann has made a big step in moving forward with the 1:20.3 line of engines and rolling stock and I couldn't imagine that they would want to move away from it when there are so many other NG engines lot's of us would like to see in 1:20.3!

Dear Steve,We think Lewis and Charlie are doing a great job in 1:29 (I personally have most of their locos and scores of cars) and we have no plans of leaving our Narrow Gauge niche.On my railroad, I simply run one scale at a time.Have fun!the Bach-man

I would love to see some new items compatible with all of the Aristo and USA Trains 1/29 rolling stock that is now available.

By compatible, do you mean like this?(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/markoles/Scalediff/CQ1.jpg)

Thats a Bachmann 1:20.3 4-4-0 pulling a string of aristo 1/29 equipment (and more than the prototype could have pulled!). She actually pulled like 15 cars on my railroad, and that's got a nasty steep grade in the middle of it.

Dear Steve,We think Lewis and Charlie are doing a great job in 1:29 (I personally have most of their locos and scores of cars) and we have no plans of leaving our Narrow Gauge niche.On my railroad, I simply run one scale at a time.Have fun!the Bach-man

Bachmann seems to have found a niche. Perhaps someone in the "aftermarket" area might come up with a kit to re-work the Fn3 Shays to 1:29 standard gauge locos--changing cabs, other parts as needed,. gj

Dear Steve,We think Lewis and Charlie are doing a great job in 1:29 (I personally have most of their locos and scores of cars) and we have no plans of leaving our Narrow Gauge niche.On my railroad, I simply run one scale at a time.Have fun!the Bach-man

So I guess the 1:29 QJ came in under the radar?

http://www.45mm.jp/page178.html

The QJ was a VERY limited edition - there was one on e-bay for $6500, IIRC. The scale, by the way, is not 1/29th, but from calculations I did a while back using the wheel diameters, other measurements and the 45mm track gauge it was standing on, it worked out at 1/24th scale.